Ministry of Justice

Human Trafficking in B.C.

Signs that a Person Might be Trafficked

Unitied Nations Publication Human Trafficking Indicators The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has a comprehensive summary publication listing the human trafficking indicators. It is noted in the publication that not all indicators listed are present in all situations involving human trafficking, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators neither proves or disproves that human trafficking is taking place. Below is a summary list of indicators. For a complete list, see the United Nations Human Trafficking Indicators [PDF]

A person may be trafficked if they:

  • Cannot leave their job to find another one
  • Do not have control over their wages or money
  • Work but do not get paid normal wages
  • Have no choice about hours worked or other working conditions
  • Work long hours, lives at a work site, or is picked up and driven to and from work
  • Show signs of physical abuse or injury
  • Are accompanied everywhere by someone who speaks for him/her
  • Appear to be fearful of and or under the control of another person
  • May have health issues that have not been attended to
  • Owe money to their employer or another person who they feel honour bound to repay
  • May describe moving or changing jobs suddenly and often
  • Are unfamiliar with the neighbourhood where they live or work
  • Are not working in the job originally promised to them
  • Are travelling with minimal or inappropriate luggage/belongings
  • Lack identification, passport or other travel documents
  • Are forced to provide sexual services in a strip club, massage parlour, brothel or other locations

Trafficked Persons may be reluctant to report or seek services because they:

  • Are threatened that if they tell anyone, they or their families will be hurt
  • May have complex relationships with their traffickers that involve deep levels of psychological conditioning based on fear or misplaced feelings of love
  • Do not see themselves as a trafficked person or victim
  • May be unfamiliar with their surrounding and do not know who to trust
  • Do not know help exists or where to go for it
  • Fear law enforcement and other authorities
  • Are embarrassed or humiliated
  • May be addicted to drugs
  • May be in debt to their traffickers
  • May be sending much needed money back 'home' and worry about not being able to do this
  • Fear being deported if they are from another country